Doll giving particular vocal responses on movement of particular appendages

ABSTRACT

A doll including a hollow body containing a talking mechanism. An appendage is movably mounted on the body, and means within the body responds to movement of the appendage for operating the mechanism. The appendage may be an arm, a leg, or the head of the doll. The talking mechanism may have several actuators for producing different spoken expressions, and movement of different appendages causes operation of different actuators. A talking mechanism actuator may be operated by depressing a depressible portion of the doll body. Movement of a particular actuator produces the same spoken expression each time. Means are provided to render the talking mechanism inoperative.

United States Patent [191 Tepper et al.

[451 Sept. 4, 1973 DOLL GIVING PARTICULAR VOCAL RESPONSES ON MOVEMENT OFPARTICULAR APPENDAGES [75] Inventors: Sidney Tepper, Millburn; Hyman P.Boydman, Springfield, both of NJ.

[52] US. Cl. 46/118, 46/232, 46/175 AR [51] Int. Cl A63h 5/00 [58] Fieldof Search 46/117, 118, 245,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1964 Hellman 46/232l/1972 Porter et al. 46/175 AR OTHER PUBLICATIONS Science Science NewsLetter 86224, Oct. 3, 1964 (page 224).

Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay AttorneyBreitenfeld & Levine [57]ABSTRACT A doll including a hollow body containing a talking mechanism.An appendage is movably mounted on the body, and means within the bodyresponds to movement of the appendage for operating the mechanism. Theappendage may be an arm, a leg, or the head of the doll. The talkingmechanism may have several actuators for producing different spokenexpressions, and movement of different appendages causes operation ofdifferent actuators. A talking mechanism actuator may be operated bydepressing a depressible portion of the doll body. Movement of aparticular actuator produces the same spoken expression each time. Meansare provided to render the talking mechanism inoperative.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBSEP A W 3.755360 SHEU E If 5INVENTORS:

PATENTEBstr 4 ms SHEH 5% [If Arm/W575 DOLL GIVING PARTICULAR VOCALRESPONSES ON MOVEMENT OF PARTICULAR APPENDAGES This invention relates totalking dolls of the type which contain recorded-speech mechanisms.

Talking mechanisms for dolls are generally of two types, namely,mechanical and electrical. When a mechanical mechanism is employed, theend of a string usually hangs through a hole in the doll body, and bypulling the string a spring is tensioned which then operates themechanism. Electrical mechanisms include a switch exposed on the dollbody which is closed to produce talking. In none of these dolls,however, is there any relationship between movement of the doll, orparts thereof, and operation of the talking mechanism, except for somewhich combine eye or mouth movement with talking.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a doll in whichtalking is initiated by moving one or another appendage of the doll,rather than by pulling a string or closing a switch, thereby increasingits play value with respect to conventional talking dolls.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a doll wherein thetalking mechanism stores a plurality of spoken expressions, and movementof different appendages causes different expressions to be spoken. Atleast some of the expressions may have a natural relationship to theappendage with which it is associated, thereby greatly delighting thechild playing with the doll.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for renderingthe talking mechanism inoperative at will so that when desired the dollcan be played with as with any ordinary doll without causing sounds tobe produced.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a dollwherein operation of the talking mechanism may be initiated bydepressing a portion of the doll body as well as by moving an appendage.

As used in the present specification and claims, the term doll" isintended to mean any replica of a living thing, e.g., humans, animals,fish, birds, and the term appendage" is intended to mean any appendageto the body of such a living thing, e.g., arms, legs, head, tail, fins,wings.

Additional objects and features of the present invention will beapparent from the following description in which reference is made tothe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a talking doll incorporating the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the doll, on a largerscale, with the front half of the doll body removed;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line6--6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the doll; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of some of the internal parts ofthe doll.

The doll chosen to illustrate the present invention, and shown in FIG.1, is a replica of a human child. The doll comprises a body 10 to whicharms 11 and 12, and legs 13 and 14, are movably connected. Ahead 15 isalso movably connected to the body by a neck 16. Body 10 is hollow andcomprises a front half 10f and a back half 10b (FIGS. 2-9) which meetand are joined together along a vertical line of separation 17 (FIGS. 4,6, and 8).

Projecting forwardly and horizontally from back wall 10b are four posts(not shown) which carry a vertical, generally rectangular metal plate 20(FIGS. 2 and 10), the plate being secured to the free ends of the postsby screws 21. Secured to the rear face of plate 20, i.e., between theplate and rear body wall 10b, by screws 22, (FIGS. 2 and 5) is a talkingmechanism 23 (FIGS. 2, 4-6, and 10).

Talking mechanism 23 is of completely conventional design, and thereforeis not illustrated and will not be described in great detail. Within thehousing of mechanism 23 is a small phonograph record bearing sixseparate but interleaved spiral grooves and an electric motor forrotating the record. Also provided is a stylus adapted to move along anyof the grooves at any one time, and a speaker for reproducing the soundsin the groove engaged by the stylus. The speaker faces rear wardly andis positioned adjacent to a grill 24 F IG: 9) formed in the back portion10b of the doll body. Projecting forwardly from the front wall of thetalking mechanism housing are six actuator push-buttons 25, 26, 27, 28,29, and 30. A compression spring 31 surrounds the stem of each actuatorbutton to normally maintain the button in extended condition. Each ofpush buttons -30 is associated with one of the six spiral grooves on therecord, and momentarily depressing any one of the push buttons causesthe sound on its respective groove to be reproduced. When the stylusreaches the end of that particular groove, the talking mechanismautomatically resets itself and is ready to reproduce the sound on anyof the grooves should any of the buttons 2530 be depressed.

Rear body portion 10b is formed with a battery compartment 34 (FIGS. 2and 7) accommodating a battery 35 for energizing the motor of talkingmechanism 23. Battery compartment 34 opens rearwardly, and a cover 36(see also FIG. 9) snaps into place to close the compartment. Theelectric circuit includes, in addition to the talking mechanism motorand battery 35 (and of course suitable wiring which is not shown), aswitch including a movable spring contact 37 carried by a slider 38movable horizontally within a slot 39 in cover 36. When slider 38 is inthe position shown in FIG. 7, contact 37 engages both battery 35 and astationary switch contact 40 to close the circuit. When slider 38 ismoved to the left in FIG. 7 (to the right in FIG. 9), contact 37 leavescontact 40, and the talking mechanism is rendered inoperative. Thecircuit also includes a rheostat (not shown) including a wiper carriedby a slider 41 (FIG. 9). By adjusting slider 41, and hence the rheostat,the speed of the talking mechanism motor can be adjusted and hence thespeed of talking may be changed.

Plate 20 is furnished with six openings 44 through which the six pushbutton actuators 25-30 of talking mechanism 23 project. At its lowerend, plate 20 is formed with two forwardly bent apertured tabs 45 (FIGS.2, 6, 7, and supporting a horizontal pin 46. A generally U-shaped levermember 47 is pivotally mounted on pin 46, the pin passing through holes48 in the lever member.

Lever member 47 includes a front central portion 49 and two rearwardlyextending arms 50. The free end of each arm 50 is bent outwardly todefine a follower 51. The upper edge of central portion 49 defines afinger 52 adjacent to and in front of actuator button 28 of talkingmechanism 23. A curved leaf spring 53 is fixed at its center to thelower portion of battery compartment 34, and the ends of spring 53 pressagainst the lower edges of followers 51. Thus, spring 53 constantlyurges member 47 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6, i.e., adirection in which finger 52 moves away from actuator button 28.

Therefore, to depress actuator button 28, member 47 must be pivoted in aclockwise direction in FIG. 6. This is accomplished, according to thepresent invention, by moving either leg 13 or 14. The upper end of eachleg is formed with a disk-like member 56 joined to the leg by a reduceddiameter portion 57 rotatably arranged withinan opening in the doll body10 (see FIGS. 2, 7, and 10). The inner surface of disk-like member 56 isshaped, as best seen in FIGS. 6, 8, and 10, with a smaller diameterportion 58 and a larger diameter portion 59 to define a face 60 adaptedto engage follower 51. It will be appreciated, therefore, that wheneither leg 13 or 14 is swung upwardly toward the dolls head 15, face 60of that leg will engage follower 51 and pivot member 47 so as to causefinger 52 to depress actuator button 28 and cause the talking mechanism23 to operate.

The front body portion 10f is provided with a depressible portion, whichas shown in FIG. 6 is in the form of a push button 63. The push buttonis located within a stepped opening 64, the stem 65 of the push buttonbeing slidably accommodated within the smallest diameter portion ofopening 64. A compression spring 66 surrounding stem 65 urges pushbutton 63 outwardly. Fixed to the inner end of stem 65, by means of ascrew 67, is an arm 68. A portion of arm 68 is located adjacent to andin front of actuator button 29 of talking mechanism 23. Thus, whenbutton 63 is depressed, arm 68 depresses actuator button 29 and causesoperation of the talking mechanism.

At its upper end, plate presents two forwardly bent, apertured tabs 71within which a pin 72 is held (see FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 10). Pivotallysupported on pin 72 are four levers 73, 74, 75, and 76 (see also FIG.3). The lower ends of levers 73-76 are arranged adjacent to and in frontof the actuator buttons 30, 25, 26, and 27, respectively, of talkingmechanism 23. Consequently, pivoting the upper end of each of levers73-76 forwardly will cause its lower end to depress the actuator buttonassociated with it, whereupon the talking mechanism will operate.

Movement of levers 73 and 74 is controlled by arms 11 and 12,respectively. Each arm is provided at its upper end with a hollowcylindrical extension 77 within which an annular cup-shaped element 78is fixed (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 10). Element 78 has a central bore forrotatably accommodating the end region of a fixed rod 79 having a humpedcentral portion.

The inner edge of element 78 is provided with an enlarged diameterportion 80 (FIGS. 4 and 10) defining two faces 81. Two abutments 82, foreach arm, project forwardly from rear body portion 10b and are arrangedin the path of movement of portion 80. Consequently, faces 81 cooperatewith abutments 82 to limit the movement of each am to a swing of about240. A fin 85 projects inwardly from element 78 to a position beneathand behind the upper end of its respective lever 73, 74. Thus, when arm11 is pivoted rearwardly, its respective fin 85 pushes the upper end oflever 73- upwardly and forwardly, thereby moving the lower end of lever73 rearwardly to depress actuator button 30. Similarly, rearwardmovement of arm 12 causes depression of actuator button 27. A leafspring 86 is secured by screws 87 to two posts 88 extending rearwardlyfrom front body portion 10f. The end regions of spring 86 press againstlevers 73 and 74, above pin 72, so as to urge the levers in a directionwhich moves their lower ends away from their respective actuator buttons30 and 27.

Fixed rod 79 is held by two generally U-shaped brackets 90 and 91, FIGS.2, 3, and 5, the central back walls of which are secured to the rearbody portion 10b by screws 92. The outer arm 93 of each bracket 90 and91 is provided with a hole for accommodating rod 79. The inner arm 94 ofeach bracket is furnished along its lower edge with a notch 95 withinwhich the humped region of rod 79 is located.

Projecting upwardly from arms 94 of brackets 90 and 91 are extensions 98(FIG. 5) upon which neck 16 is mounted so that doll head 15 can be movedin a frontto-back direction. Projecting downwardly from neck 16 is arigid strip 99, the lower portion of which is located behind the upperend of lever 75. A tension spring 100 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 10), connectedbetween the lower end of strip 99 and the back portion of bracket 91,urges strip 99 away from lever 75. However, when the doll head 15 ispushed rearwardly, strip 99 pushes the upper end of lever 75 forwardly,whereupon the lower end of lever 75 pushes actuator button 25 inwardlyto operate the talking mechanism 23.

Located within a stepped bore 101(FIGS. 3 and 5) in back body portion10b is a push button 102, the stem 103 of the push button being slidablyaccommodated within the smallest diameter portion of bore 101. Acompression spring 104 urges button 102 outwardly to its position shownin FIG. 3. Secured to the inner end of stem 103, by a screw 105, is anextension 106. Extension 106 terminates adjacent to and behind the upperend of lever 76. When push button 102 is depressed, as indicated in FIG.5, extension 106 pushes the upper end of lever 76 forwardly, whereuponthe lower end of lever 76 depresses actuator button 26, and talkingmechanism 23 is operated.

The above description indicates how each of the six actuator buttons25-30 of talking mechanism 23 can be depressed in order to reproduce thespoken expression stored in its respective groove of the phonograph re-'cord within the talking mechanism. Preferably, there is somerelationship between the spoken expression and the appendage, or othermeans, used to actuate each button 25-30. Thus, for example, when arm 11is swung to depress actuator button 30, the doll may say This is myright hand." Also, when button 63 is depressed, to depress actuatorbutton 29, the doll may say You're tickling me."

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, andby way of example, and many variations may be made in the inventionwhich will still be comprised within its spirit. It is understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form orembodiment except insofar as such limitations are included in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A doll having the form of a living thing, comprising:

a. a hollow body,

b. a sound-producing mechanism, coupled to the inside of said body, forproviding a plurality of different selectable sounds simulating humantalking, the mechanism having a plurality of actuators for selectingsaid sounds, each actuator being associated with a different one of saidsounds,

c. a plurality of appendages movably mounted on said body, saidappendages simulating actual appendages of the living thing, and

d. means coupled to the inside of said body, responsive to movement of afirst and second of said plurality of appendages, for operating a firstand second of said plurality of actuators, respectively, to

provide the sounds associated with the first and second actuators.

2. A doll as defined in claim 1 including means for rendering saidtalking mechanism inoperative, when desired, so that movement of any ofsaid plurality of appendages causes no sound to be produced.

3. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said responsive means respondsto movement of either of two of said appendages. for operating one ofsaid actuators.

41. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said doll includes arms, legs,and a head mounted on said body, and wherein said appendages areselected from the group consisting of said arms, legs and head.

5. A doll as defined in claim 1 including a depressible portion on thesurfaces of said body, and means within said body responsive todepression of said portion for operating one of said actuators.

6. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said means (d) includes a leverpivotally mounted within said body, said lever having a portion adjacentto one of the actuators.

7. A doll as defined in claim 6 including a member within said bodymovable with one of said appendages said lever engaging said member andbeing movable by the latter for operating said one of the actuators.

11k 9 t il l

1. A doll having the form of a living thing, comprising: a. a hollowbody, b. a sound-producing mechanism, coupled to the inside of saidbody, for providing a plurality of different selectable soundssimulating human talking, the mechanism having a plurality of actuatorsfor selecting said sounds, each actuator being associated with adifferent one of said sounds, c. a plurality of appendages movablymounted on said body, said appendages simulating actual appendages ofthe living thing, and d. means coupled to the inside of said body,responsive to movement of a first and second of said plurality ofappendages, for operating a first and second of said plurality ofactuators, respectively, to provide the sounds associated with the firstand second actuators.
 2. A doll as defined in claim 1 including meansfor rendeRing said talking mechanism inoperative, when desired, so thatmovement of any of said plurality of appendages causes no sound to beproduced.
 3. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said responsive meansresponds to movement of either of two of said appendages for operatingone of said actuators.
 4. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said dollincludes arms, legs, and a head mounted on said body, and wherein saidappendages are selected from the group consisting of said arms, legs andhead.
 5. A doll as defined in claim 1 including a depressible portion onthe surfaces of said body, and means within said body responsive todepression of said portion for operating one of said actuators.
 6. Adoll as defined in claim 1 wherein said means (d) includes a leverpivotally mounted within said body, said lever having a portion adjacentto one of the actuators.
 7. A doll as defined in claim 6 including amember within said body movable with one of said appendages said leverengaging said member and being movable by the latter for operating saidone of the actuators.